Kannappa Review: Vishnu Manchu and Preity Mukhundhan's slow-paced film boasts star power but lacks proper conflict and technical finesse
Plot
Set in second century CE, in the village of Uduppura, close to a forest near Sri Kalahasti, lives Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu). Thinnadu is a fearless tribe hunter, who also happens to be an atheist. His father, on the other hand, is a Shiva devotee. One fine day while hunting, a wild boar leads him to a sacred hill with a Shivaling. After hunting down the boar, Thinnadu feels inexplicable pain. To get the pain off his chest, he offers water and meat to the deity. This pleases Lord Shiva (Akshay Kumar) but angers Mahadeva Shastri (Mohan Babu), a Brahmin who strongly opposes meat offerings. This triggers a clash between Thinnadu's raw devotion and the rigid rituals of Shiva devotees.
Thinnadu meets Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), a princess seeking the Vayulingam, and they develop a close bond. Rudra (Prabhas), a wise mentor, subtly guides him in the right direction of devotion. A meeting with Avadhoota (Mohanlal), deepens Thinnadu's devotion, further. As tensions with Shastri and the tribals peak, Thinnadu's sacrifices transform him into Kannappa, a legendary devotee.
Watch Kannappa to follow Thinnadu's journey from being an atheist to a believer.
What Works for Kannappa
Kannappa finds its strength in the last 40 minutes. The movie is partly able to deliver a devotional story of Thinnadu from being an atheist to Shiva's devotee. The climax, with Thinnadu's selfless act, is well intentioned and it should resonate with Shiva devotees.
The divine moments, framed by Shiva and Parvati's (Kajal Aggarwal) conversations, feel authentic. It is enhanced further by soulful background music and devotional songs. Prabhas brings the star power. Mohanlal's cameo as Avadhoota and Akshay Kumar's brief role as Shiva add gravitas to the spiritual scenes.
What Doesn't Work for Kannappa
First things first, the movie is too long and should have been atleast 40 minutes shorter if not more. The first half drags with a sluggish pace and unnecessary subplots and it is towards the ending of the second half that the pace gets better. The conflict between Thinnadu and Mahadeva Shastri feels repetitive and lacks depth. The romantic track between Thinnadu and Nemali is sweet but underdeveloped. It lacks emotional impact.
The visual effects, especially in action sequences, often appear unpolished and artificial. Action scenes feel chaotic, with them lacking sharp choreography. This in turn, dilutes the impact of even the important scenes.
Watch the Kannappa Trailer
Performances in Kannappa
Vishnu Manchu's performance as Thinnadu is adequate but lacks depth in early scenes. He luckily manages to pull it together, to an extent, in the emotional climax. Mohan Babu is commanding as Shastri, but his role feels one-note. Prabhas, as Rudra, brings calm wisdom but is severely underused. Preity Mukhundhan is earnest as Nemali, but her character lacks substance. Mohanlal and Akshay Kumar shine in their brief roles. However, their short presence on the screen, won't give the fans a bang for their buck.
Final Verdict of Kannappa
Kannappa has heart but that's not enough. The devotional tale has a stirring climax but is hampered by a slow first half, weak visual effects, and uneven storytelling. It shall appeal to Shiva devotees but the lacklustre pacing and the shallow subplots will not let the content fly beyond its limited target audience.
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Time of India
14 hours ago
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Kannappa Movie: Showtimes, Review, Songs, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos
Kannappa Story: Kannappa is a devotional epic inspired by sacred lore. It traces the spiritual journey of Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu), an atheist tribal hunter known for his raw instincts and survival skills, who undergoes a profound inner transformation. His path eventually leads him to become one of Lord Shiva's most devoted followers. As the story unfolds, Thinnadu's encounters with divine elements and his evolving sense of purpose take centre stage. His relationship with Nemali (Preity Mukhundhan), who acts as a feisty yet grounded counterbalance, adds emotional texture to his arc. Kannappa Review: Directed by Mukesh Kumar Singh, Kannappa is a sincere attempt at retelling revered lore with visual grandeur. While the film opens on a slow and stretched note, it gradually finds its rhythm and builds to a soul-stirring finale. Vishnu Manchu brings sincerity and steadiness to the lead role. Prabhas makes a dynamic appearance as Rudra, energising the screen with his commanding and entertaining presence. Akshay Kumar makes a confident Telugu debut as Lord Shiva, fitting naturally into the film's spiritual atmosphere. Kajal Aggarwal adds elegance as Parvati, while Mohanlal's composed portrayal of Kirata brings a quiet strength to the narrative. Mohan Babu is firm and dependable as Mahadeva Shasthri, and R. Sarathkumar leaves an impression as Nathanathudu. The supporting cast, including Brahmanandam, Madhoo, Siva Balaji, Mukesh Rishi, Devaraj, Brahmaji, and others, contribute meaningfully, helping flesh out the world around Thinnadu. While the film hits the dramatic notes effectively, some of the emotional layers, particularly around Thinnadu's inner conflict and relationships, could have been explored with more depth. The narrative has heart, but a deeper dive into the character's internal struggles would have added more weight to the transformation. That said, Kannappa scores high on visual and musical impact. Sheldon Chau's cinematography captures the beauty of forested landscapes and celestial moments with finesse, giving the film a rich visual texture. Some of the VFX elements fall short of the film's ambition, but the overall sincerity of the production shines through. Stephen Devassy's background score is another strong point, heightening the emotional beats, especially during the intense and moving final act. Watch it if you enjoy sacred stories with strong visual storytelling and emotional payoff. Kannappa ends on a powerful note that resonates with devotees and admirers of culturally rooted cinema.
Scroll.in
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a day ago
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Kannappa movie review: A messy epic where devotion arrives too late
First off, because people had modest to low expectations on this film, it's safe to say that there are many positives here, more than expected. Vishnu Manchu's much-publicised magnum opus positions itself as a spiritual retelling of a tribal warrior's transformation into Lord Shiva's most ardent devotee. Unfortunately, it spends more time in disjointed subplots that don't do anything to the plot. By the time Kannappa finally discovers the pulse of its own story, some two hours into its bloated runtime, the audience is already spiritually liberated from the act of caring. Director: Mukesh Kumar Singh Cast: Vishnu Manchu, Mohan Babu, Prabhas, Mohanlal, Akshay Kumar, Kajal Aggarwal Kannappa is based on the classic arc of the non-believer-turned believer. Our protagonist Thinnadu (Vishnu Manchu) is an atheist in the second century who despises the rituals of his tribes and rebels against the norms. Which sounds promising on paper, except the film never explores what that really means. Instead, we are launched into a painfully superficial love story with Nemali (Preity Mukundhan), which mostly serves as an excuse for the awkward age-gap romance and heavy midriff shots. After an uninspired war, an ironic love story, and a brief encounter with the divine, Thinnadu evolves into the devout Kannappa.
